Rowing



(No Model.)

G. W.}BRIGGS.

` RUWING APPLIANGE, 5w. l No. 323,292. Patented Julyl 28,y 1885.

NiTnD STATES PATENT OFFICE;o

GEORGE XV. BRIGGS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO VILLIAM J. HALL, OF SAME PLACE. l

ROWING APPLIANCE, 80C.

SPECIFEGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 323,292, dated July 28, 1885.

Application med Mayes, 1885. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be itknown that I, GEORGE W. BRIGGs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvenients in Rowing Appliances, and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to rowing appliances, Src.

The object is to present all the conditions of actual rowing without the necessity of an extensive sheet of water.

The invention consists in a boat or other object suitable for rowers, held captive by elastic attachment; and, furthermore, in a boat or other object suitable for rowers, held captive by elastic attachment and in such manner as to be free to turn.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure lis a general view showing one form of theinvention in use. Fig. 2 is a View of ajboat held captive in a tank L' of water in one of the numerous waysin which the invention can be applied. Fig. 3 is a detail View of the preferred form of elastic attachment with swivel.

In practicing rowing heretofore it has been necessary either to dorso upon bodies of water, with change from place to place, or to resort to so-called rowingmachines/7 more properly termed rowing apparatus ,77 but bodies ofwater of sufcient'size to admit of movement of a boat from place to place are not always accessible to those desirous of rowing, whilefin the case of beginners or of children` the pastime or exercise is not free from danger; and rowing apparatus, by which term here is lneant a structure to be used in sufliciently dry places, and constituting a mere exercising apparatus, is about as imaginative as ily-fishing in a 'garret or on` a roof, and gives no idea of the proper management of an actual boat, ofthe proper manner of getting into or out of the same, nor of the proper pose to be observed, for example, in shells or sculls, together with the manner of directing thesame. In addition to other advantages, the sensation of being in a real boat actually upon water,

coupled with the pleasures of the perception of water and aquatic surroundings, is not to be overlooked.

In the present case, as merely illustrative of the broad invention, A represents a boat floating in a tank of water, B, the boat being shown as attached to the bottom of the tank by springs C, the lower ends of which hook into staples driven into the bottom, the upper ends being attached to the boat or to a plate on the boat, and,l the/'boat is made capable of turning to the right or to the left, without twisting the springs, by means of a swivel consisting of a projecting pin on the boats bottom, passing loosely though a plate, D, upon the springs, and headed below.

It is obvious that the boat may be attached to other parts of the tank besides its bottom, and from other parts-as from its sides, its stem, or its bow; also, that for a spring of any suitable kind au elastic line may be substituted.

By having ,the boat swiveled not only is injury prevented to' the elastic attachment, but 'the boat will turn freely upon pulling :more

upon one side than the other, intentionally or otherwise. The swivel may, however, sometimes be omitted. A plank or log for diving orV sporting in the water may be similarly attached.

The invention maly, with great advantage and attractiveness, be employed in natatoriums and gymnasiums; and a rink might be converted in to a great tank at will, and serve as a navigarium or remigarium.

As the boats are captive, and need be al lowed to move but a few feet forward or back,

many boats could be used/in one tank or upon a small body of water Without interfering with each other. The boats may be arranged in any manner desired in the tank, so that each boat be far enough from the adjacent side to allowy free play of oar, and not to strike'aside with its stern upon recoil.

It is obviousv that the invention is not limited toplacing the boat and spring attachf ment in a tank, or upon an artificial body 'of water, since it may be employed in any shallow water where desirable. y

To get into and out extensiblestage.

IOO.

lof aboatfl employ an Having thus fully described my invention, and the preferred means of carrying the same into effect, what I desire to claim and secure ,by Letters Patent is- 1. In combination with a boat or other suitable vessel or device capable of holding or sustaining a person or persons, one or more elastic attachments for holding the same captive with capability of resilience, substantially as described.

2. In combination with a boat or other suitable receptacle or device for holding,` or sus taining a row er or rowers, one or more elastic attachments, such as springs, the boatbeing pivoted or swiveled with relation to the 15' spring or springs, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of a boat, A, a tank, B, elastic attachments or springs C, and a swivel consisting of the plate D and a pin, substan- 2o tially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE XV. BRIGGS. Vitnesses:

R. G. DYRENFORTH, GEO. STAMBAUGH. 

